Why Wrestling?
from HS Head Coach Chris Barnes
It’s a fair question. I’ve coached for a long time, and I’ve seen many kids come through this program - each with a unique story. Different backgrounds, different challenges, different goals. The common thread is simple: every athlete who stays with the sport leaves it a better person.
Wrestling offers obvious benefits - fitness, strength, conditioning, weight management. Those are the primary gains. But the secondary benefits are the ones that truly matter. Wrestling teaches self-discipline, goal setting, responsibility, accountability, self-worth, ownership, belonging, pride, determination, and community. These are not abstract idea; they are learned daily, through effort and consistency.
Wrestling is different from other sports. Ask most athletes what they do and you’ll hear, “I play basketball” or “I play football.” Ask a wrestler, and the answer is different: “I am a wrestler”. That distinction matters. Wrestling isn’t just something you do - it’s something you become. More than any other sport, wrestling reflects life. If you put in the work, you earn the results. Nothing is given. Practices are hard. Matches are hard. Managing weight, time, and expectations is hard. But that challenge is the point. Overtime, the sport changes you - permanently, and for the better.
In wrestling, you don’t just join a team; you become part of a family. A family that supports you whether you win or lose. A family that welcomes you regardless of where you come from. Respect isn’t automatic - you earn it - but the expectations are clear: show up, work hard, support your teammates, love the sport, and give your best effort every day.
If your child is willing to commit to practice, to school, and to supporting this program, I promise to match that commitment. I will teach them how to be successful in wrestling - and more importantly, how to carry those lessons forward into life.
Why wrestling? Because it gives you what you didn’t know you needed. Because it builds discipline, pride, and confidence. Because it teaches you the value of effort and helps you see the value in yourself. That’s worth repeating: it teaches you the value of effort and helps you see the value in yourself.
Trust the sport. Love the sport. Be a wrestler.
FALCON VISION
Mission Statement & Purpose
Liberty Wrestling Organization dba Liberty Mat Club is dedicated to developing the skills of area youth in the sport of wrestling and its disciplines of hard work, community, leadership, sportsmanship, and character building. To achieve our mission, we provide a supervised program of training and competition to youth from Kindergarten through 12th grade. Supervision of the program shall be through the policy of the board of directors and coaches to:
Acquaint registrants with the fundamentals of wrestling rules, love of the sport, and its relation to life skills.
Teach individual and team goal setting, work ethics, and commitment to overcome the inevitable setbacks on a path to success.
Build youth self-confidence by encouraging a try-try-again approach. Regardless of the score, recognize and be proud of incremental improvement in each wrestler.
Recognize our primary function of behavioral leadership, productive cooperation, hard work, and accountability. Show appreciation and respect for all individuals, referees, teams and parents involved.
Work with parents and wrestlers alike to exhibit positive role modeling skills towards community involvement, civic awareness, and their roles in making an all-volunteer organization operate.
THE NEST
We are proud to be part of a community where each wrestler is nurtured in their development, fed belief, and made to FLY.
Although our organization is newly structured, we are proud of our connection with Liberty HS, its longstanding community, and grateful for the administration support.
The people behind the scenes that make Liberty Wrestling possible:
Our Board
Director of Coaches - Chris Barnes
Director of Development - Nick Salzman
Director of Operations - Andrea Salzman
Director of Finance - Daye Decker (Outgoing)
Director of Marketing - OPEN
Director of MS Program (Interim) - Nick Salzman
Director of Youth Program - Mauro Ochoa
Additional Founding Members - Bryan Decker & Valerie Ochoa
We are seeking board members! Anyone interested must be able to obtain a USA Wrestling Event Volunteer Membership; which includes a Background Check and Safe Sport Training.
